The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-23
PORTLAND ART.
Spring Exhibition of the Society and
School.

The Portland Society of Art gave to its
members, and the press private view of its
spring exbibition-the fifteenth in number
Saturday night The rooms were brilliantly
lighted and for several hours the pictures
and drawings were.inspected and discussed.
The great feature of this exhibition is the
Room A. where Mr.. Benson's art class dis
play about two hundred drawings, divided
into sections, each section labelled with the
name of the month during which the draw
ings, pertaining to it, were made. The
school months began in December and closed
with April. The class included some forty
or fifty pupils, and, of course, the exhibit
embraces only the best of their work The
display is a revelation of what skilful
teacher can accomplish, especially when he
has the material to work with that has been
afforded him in Portland; it is attribute to
both teacher and pupils. Beginning at the
month of December, when the planes Ia the
casts and studies were few and of the sim
pier forms up to the month of April when
they were many and more elaborate, even a
tyro in art can see the progress of the school.
Ordinarily the spectator in an exhibition of
this kind runs his eye over the collection and.
at a glance, picks out the few that show
more merit than the others. In this case
the whole collection bears long and careful
study. The studies in oil are, several of
them, of high order; one of them, that of
the head of colored youth well known to
the frequenters of fashionable dancing
school, particularly SO. The studies from
the casts are, to great extent very strong.
l. haa fn,,d ,f hafr orfo and
very industrious, some of them foregoing
the pleasures of society for the past six
months to work all day, day after day at their
studies. 1t is to be hoped with such record
| that Mr.. Benson will be induced to resume
the class next winter.
Room b contains % oil paintings and 10
water-colors, rather small display by the
society. Several of these however are very
good they arc chiefly the work of profess
SIGNALS. Mr.. Benson's two portraits are of
course the most prominent One, that of a
young lady. three. quarter length, seated with
Gainsboro hat on and one buff gauntlet, as
if she had just dropped in for call, is most
noticeable for accuracy of modelling for re-
finement of STYLE The wavy blonde locks
| on the Torch cad are fine and delicate. The
background is not just what is desired. but
the rest of the picture is very satisfactory.
MIR. c. L. Fox presents picture called
Spilled Milk" Ayonng peasant girl is lean
| ing back against h0gshead, supported by
her elbows, while, at her feet, lies the broken
| jug. The farm buildings lie at the
| child's left. The chlld's head and face are
| finely painted and call instant attention.
| The coloring of the painting, apart from the
child. is hardly in harmony with nature. Mr..
| Woodcock's still life picture of Oranges" is
| highly commendable both in drawing and col
| oring. Mr.. G. +. KimbalPs Failing Leaves"
has more warmth than that artist usually dis
plays, and has been carefully Painted from a
close study of nature. The fallen, golden
| leaves on the placid stream, the suggestion
| of forms of foliage in the distant trees, and
| the outlining of the branches of the trees
themselves are strong features. The picture
is full of autuninal feeling. Mr.. Gilbert's
mill Pond" is a conscientious effort, as is al
| so Miss Alice Gould's Decorative Head ;
Mrs. c. l.. Dyer's Sketch at the Cape" is
| good, and the sky in the picture is deserved
pictures the sketch at the Cape" is by far
the best, and one of the best of
| his efforts that has been seen for
a long time The water, the suggestions of
objects on the farther shore, and the general
| tone, makes this a picture to which the eye
continually turns with pleasure. A panel Of
"Azaleas," by Master S. Ii. Whitney, /,
| good.
Among the water colors Miss Mary K.
| Longfellow shows three painted in her usual
| careful manner. Mr.. j. B. Hudson has two,
both among his best work, especially in his
| atmospheric effects and sky.
In Room c there are five water colors, a
| pastel, an oil painting, five black and whites,
and large collection of painted china. We
have only space now to say that the black
and white "Cristy," by Mr.. S. G. Cushing,
represent a young lad holding out his hat for
money, while his violin is inclined under his
other arm, is drawing full of life and spir-
/ it, and one of the best things in this collec-
ton. Simmons portrait bas-relief, Of Judge
Symonds mother, will Of course command
attention, while tina ladies will all be inter-
ested in Miss Wyman's painting on china.
| The examples for drawing on stained glass,
and embroidery by Miss Jennie Lowell are
| particularly good.
The exhibit on will open to-day and con-
| tinue open until June 18th. -